What is Git?

What is Git?

Git is a version control tool used to manage and track changes in source code during software development. It helps developers collaborate, keep track of changes, and revert to previous versions if necessary.

Key Points:

• Version Control Tool: Git keeps track of all changes made to your code.
• For Source Code: It is specifically designed to manage source code for software projects.

Example: Imagine you are writing a book with a group of authors. Each author makes changes to different parts of the book. Git helps you keep track of who made what changes, and when, so you can review and combine everyone’s work efficiently.

How to Install Git?

The installation process varies depending on the operating system you are using. Let’s look at the steps for installing Git on Windows, Linux, and Mac.

Git website –https://git-scm.com/

Windows

To install Git on Windows, you typically download an executable file (.exe) and run it to install Git.

Steps:

1. Go to the Git website.
2. Click on the “Download” button for Windows.
3. Run the downloaded .exe file and follow the installation instructions.

Example:

1. Download Git for Windows.
2. Run the downloaded git-setup.exe file.
3. Follow the setup wizard to install Git.

Linux

On Linux, you usually install Git using the package manager specific to your Linux distribution.

Steps for Ubuntu (a popular Linux distribution):

1. Open the terminal.
2. Run the following command to install Git:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install git

Example:

1. Open Terminal.
2. Type `sudo apt-get update` and press Enter.
3. Type `sudo apt-get install git` and press Enter.
4. Follow the prompts to complete the installation.

Mac

For Mac users, Git can be installed using Homebrew, a popular package manager for macOS.

Steps:

1. Open the terminal.
2. If you don’t have Homebrew installed, install it by running:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

3.Install Git by running:

brew install git

Example:

1. Open Terminal.
2. If necessary, install Homebrew by typing the provided command and pressing Enter.
3. Type `brew install git` and press Enter.
4. Git will be downloaded and installed on your system.

Summary

Git is a powerful tool for version control, allowing developers to track and manage changes in their source code. Installing Git varies depending on your operating system:

• Windows: Download and run an .exe file.
• Linux: Use the package manager (e.g., apt-get for Ubuntu).
• Mac: Use Homebrew to install Git.